Showbiz is all about the blinding glitz and glamor, but it is just as much about the persistent bickering in and around the stars deal on a daily basis. Although some artists are too well-versed in the cruelty of the entertainment capital, not everyone belongs to the camp. Yet, despite steering clear of the archetype controversies that often entangle the starlets, Bruno Mars secured a landing in the conflicting row of a $50 million debt.
For those caught a little off-guard by the buzz, here is the scoop on the entire drama.
All about Bruno Mars’ $50 million overdraft
Bruno Mars has had quite the chart-topping career over two decades, and throughout, the singer has expertly dodged drama and controversies. However, Mars found himself in the trenches of conflict after he was linked to a $50 million gambling debt following a rumor mill surfacing on March 2024.
Bruno Mars in instagram story reacting to being the first ever artist to have 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify:
“KEEP STREAMING! I’ll be out of debt in no time 🕺🏽” pic.twitter.com/bjDZd0D5uG
— Pop Flop (@ThePopFlop) January 28, 2025
News Nation first reported on the matter
after a “well-placed Vegas insider”
dropped the nugget. According to the source, Mars reportedly owed the money from betting at a casino. They went as far as to claim that the other party allegedly “owned
” Mars. Additionally, they reported that his $90 million per year deal with the concerned hotel was used to clear the outstanding balance.
Read More: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Leave Fans Split Down the Middle With a Historic Spotify Milestone
Though Bruno Mars has rarely found himself in such deep claims of controversy, who was the opposite party involved in the chaos?
Who did Bruno Mars owe $50 million to?
According to News Nation’s report back in the day, Bruno Mars reportedly had a $50 million pending due with MGM Casino.
The singer has been a resident at the hotel for nearly a decade, and last year, he launched a cocktail lounge, The Pinky Ring, in collaboration with MGM. Though the reports were shocking, Mars’ reactions were even more surprising.
‘Fans Are Praising Bruno Mars’s “Unbothered” Attitude After He Poked Fun At The Wild Rumor He Has $50 Million Of Gambling Debt’ 🙌👑
‘Bruno Mars certainly sees the funny side to all those rumors about his finances.’🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/dGtigl3POT pic.twitter.com/VRKqczkhKv
— dokku 🍋🍋🟩✨✨ (@dokkusannOsaka) August 30, 2024
So much so that it prompted a further probe about the truth of the claim. This was not exactly the first time Mars has been linked to gambling, but the debt condition surely raised eyebrows. Subsequently, MGM eventually clapped back at the gossip grapevine, setting the record straight about the alleged $50 million debt.
The real truth about Bruno Mars’ debt
Bruno Mars is no random singer trying to mark their footing in showbiz because he has already done that and his shocking performance fees
alone speak for that. But to imagine him entangled with MGM over a whopping $50 million debt even after their cherished partnership? This surely had many dropping their jaws left and right. According to Buzz Feed, MGM eventually touched on the matter, clarifying that “he has no debt with MGM.”
MGM denies report Bruno Mars has $50 MILLION in gambling debt with casino:
“Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.” pic.twitter.com/5oZiPOUYo8
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 18, 2024
“MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect,”
the company said, separating fact from fiction. Although Mars never really paid heed to the rumor mill per se, considering he even re-posted memes on it, MGM’s clarification was the ultimate sigh of relief for his fans, who struggled to come to terms with the speculation in the first place.
Did you know about Bruno Mars’ rumored debt with MGM? Let us know in the comments below!
